After thirteen applications were submitted, three finalists are left for the interim Stearns County Sheriff position.

The sheriff’s position is open after John Sanner retired last month. The Board of Commissioners is appointing someone to take over for the rest of his term.

Public Information Specialist Janet Midas says the final applicants are: Stearns County Chief Deputy Bruce Bechtold, Waite Park Police Chief David Bentrud, and Retired Dakota County Sheriff Don Gudmundson. They were decided after a brief commissioners meeting Tuesday morning.

The three candidates will be interviewed Tuesday, May 16, and the position fulfillment is scheduled to be announced at the Board of Commissioners meeting May 23.

The interim sheriff will serve until the November 2018 election.